Why is Boston Parking So Frustrating?

When we spoke with Bostonians on the streets, people described parking as “awful” and “excruciating.” One person asked if he could curse to illustrate his frustration.

But what makes parking so frustrating?

In our survey of drivers in major cities, we asked what makes downtown parking a hassle. In Boston, 8 out of 10 drivers said the cost was the biggest headache. Traffic and the lack of parking options near their destinations were also at the top of the list.

Overall, Boston is on par with the national numbers, but here’s what we found:

81 percent of Bostonians think parking costs are too high, which is 7 percent higher than the national average.

43 percent feel there’s a lack of parking near their destinations, and 42 percent think there aren’t enough parking spaces in downtown Boston.